Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe, particularly in southern Italy, Flanders and the Netherlands, to provide aqua vita from distillates of grapes and grains. It then became an object of commerce in the spirits industry.
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Did the British invent gin?
Like many of Britain’s national favourites, gin did not originate on our shores. In fact, if you don’t count the Italian monks who are thought to have used juniper berries as flavourings in distilled spirits back in the 11th century, it’s Holland that’s credited as the birthplace of gin.
Who first invented gin?
Its origin is attributed to Franciscus Sylvius, a 17th-century professor of medicine at the University of Leiden in Holland, who distilled the juniper berry with spirits to produce an inexpensive medicine having the diuretic properties of juniper-berry oil.
What country is gin from?
Gin as we know it today, is based on an old Dutch liquor called ‘jenever’, a blend of grain-based malt wine and a neutral spirit infused with Juniper, which was used to mask its harsh flavour.
Why is England known for gin?
The Dutch influx into England is integral to the story of gin’s creation. The Dutch imported genever, both legally and by smuggling, and British distillers began to use this spirit as a measure by which to compare their gins. Britain had a Dutch King William III, in 1688.
Is gin English or Scottish?
Gin subsequently emerged as the national alcoholic drink of England. Gin today is produced in different ways from a wide range of herbal ingredients, giving rise to a number of distinct styles and brands.
What alcohol did the UK invent?
Another drink, champagne was invented in England in the late 17th century.
Who brought gin to the UK?
It was created on the back streets of 17th-century London to ape the Dutch spirit genever. When William of Orange, who was Dutch, arrived to rule Britain in 1688 he relaxed the laws on making spirits, creating a free-for-all of amateur experimentation.
When did the English start drinking gin?
Since arriving in their country in early 17th Century, gin has been a staple drink of the British.
What alcohol is Britain known for?
Scottish whisky is one of the top British drinks to savour while travelling around the UK. Created during the 15th century, Scotch whisky or Uisge Beatha (meaning Water of Life), as it’s known in Scottish, is the most popular alcoholic spirit in the world.
Why is gin the healthiest alcohol?
Gin has less sugar and fewer calories than some other liquors. If you already consume alcohol, gin may be a slightly healthier option. Be careful with mixers, however. They can make the sugar content of your drink skyrocket.
What country drinks most gin?
Per capita, people in the Philippines drink more gin than any other country in the world.
What is the oldest gin?
1847 – Boodles gin established
This old British brand of gin dates back to 1847 but is now only sold in the United Sates. The brand is named after Boodle’s gentlemen’s club in St. James’s, London, founded in 1762 and originally run by Edward Boodle.
What did English soldiers call gin?
In English, ‘genever‘ became gin and an English obsession was born as it made its way back with the soldiers. This is also thought to be where the term ‘Dutch courage’ comes from, referencing Dutch soldiers reportedly enjoying a stiff drink of gin before a battle to bolster their morale.
Why do Brits drink gin and tonic?
Tonic water thus became an essential part of Britain’s colonialism, though its taste in those days was bitter and harsh. Brits soon found that the addition of gin, sugar, ice, and citrus was the perfect way to temper the bitterness and make the cure palatable.
Is Gordon’s gin English or Scottish?
Distilled in Scotland by Diageo Cameronbridge Distillery. A distinctively refreshing gin crafted from the finest handpicked juniper berries and a secret selection of botanicals.
Who drinks more Scottish or English?
What may surprise some is that overall alcohol consumption is similar: in both Scotland and England, more than three in five adults drink at levels that are within official guidelines – no more than 21 units a week for men or 14 for women – and over the past decade, alcohol consumption has fallen. So far, so similar.
Does Scotland produce more gin than England?
The industry slowly recovered and now, three of the world’s best-selling gins – Tanqueray, Hendricks and Gordons – are all made in Scotland. It is thought that at present, around 80% of all gin produced in the UK comes from Scotland.
Why is gin called Mother’s ruin?
The gin obsession was blamed for misery, rising crime, madness, higher death rates and falling birth rates. Gin joints allowed women to drink alongside men for the first time and it is thought this led many women neglecting their children and turning to prostitution, hence gin becoming known as ‘Mother’s Ruin’.
What is the national drink of England?
tea
This act solidified tea’s role as a necessity for all classes of British society and it marks the point at which we can see tea established as the national drink of England. François de La Rochefoucauld in 1784 commented: The drinking of tea is general throughout England.
Did Britain invent beer?
The first record of hopped beer in Blighty was circa 1362 imported from Amsterdam into Great Yarmouth. The earliest mention of beer being brewed in England (from imported hops) was 1412, made by a German alewife in Colchester. Cultivation of hops started around 1520 when humulus lupulus was planted in Kent.